TV
Shocking Twist in 'Queen Mantis' as True Culprit is Revealed
According to Nielsen Korea, the episode that aired on the 26th achieved a 6.5% viewership rating in the metropolitan area, securing the top spot among all channels and mini-series in its time slot. The peak rating soared to 7.4%, proving that the drama continues to captivate viewers with its intense suspense and gripping storyline.
In this episode, the identity of the copycat killer, who was being intensely pursued by the serial killer 'Mantis' Jeong Yi-shin (played by Ko Hyun-jung) and her detective son Cha Soo-yeol (played by Jang Dong-yoon), was unveiled. The culprit turned out to be Seo Ah-ra, a close friend of Cha Soo-yeol's wife, Lee Jeong-yeon (played by Kim Bo-ra), shocking the audience.
Lee Jeong-yeon discovered she was pregnant but couldn't bring herself to tell her husband, Cha Soo-yeol, who was tormented by guilt over failing to prevent Park Min-jae's (played by Lee Chang-min) death and was excluded from the investigation team after his 'mother-son relationship' with Jeong Yi-shin was revealed. She could only silently comfort her husband.
Meanwhile, Kim Na-hee (played by Lee El) visited Jeong Yi-shin without Cha Soo-yeol, but Jeong Yi-shin refused to cooperate, demanding Cha Soo-yeol's presence. She even attempted to manipulate Kim Na-hee by exploiting her weaknesses. Jeong Yi-shin emphasized how desperately Cha Soo-yeol was committed to proving he was different from his mother. During this time, another clue about the suspect 'Kang Yeon-jung' emerged, leading to Cha Soo-yeol's return to the investigation team.
At that moment, the culprit called again, threatening to destroy what Jeong Yi-shin cherished. Jeong Yi-shin immediately sensed danger for Lee Jeong-yeon, Cha Soo-yeol's wife, and suspected Seo Ah-ra as the copycat killer. Seo Ah-ra took the pregnant Lee Jeong-yeon somewhere, with the police in pursuit.
Upon receiving a message from Cha Soo-yeol that Seo Ah-ra was the killer, Lee Jeong-yeon attempted to escape but couldn't evade Seo Ah-ra's grasp. Seo Ah-ra killed the police officer who came to rescue Lee Jeong-yeon, took his gun, and headed to the mining village of Woongsan, where Jeong Yi-shin had committed murders in the past. She confined Lee Jeong-yeon in her hideout and called Jeong Yi-shin again, displaying an obsessive fixation on her. Seo Ah-ra threatened to kill the pregnant Lee Jeong-yeon and proposed a 'hostage exchange' with Jeong Yi-shin.
As Jeong Yi-shin and Cha Soo-yeol made their difficult decision, the police had other plans. The police chief secretly instructed Kim Na-hee to shoot Jeong Yi-shin if necessary. Jeong Yi-shin faced the possibility of death at the hands of both Seo Ah-ra and the police. As suspicions arose about Jeong Yi-shin's intentions, she and Cha Soo-yeol walked into the perilous situation, concluding the episode.
The seventh episode of 'Queen Mantis' delivered a shocking revelation of the killer's identity, leaving viewers stunned. The drama continued to build tension with Seo Ah-ra's kidnapping of the pregnant Lee Jeong-yeon and her demand for a hostage exchange with Jeong Yi-shin. The episode portrayed Jeong Yi-shin's willingness to sacrifice for her son and the ongoing suspicion towards her, as well as Cha Soo-yeol's agony over endangering his mother to save his wife, maintaining a gripping tension throughout its 60-minute runtime. The actors' performances further heightened the drama's intensity.
The climax is now approaching. The final episode of SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Queen Mantis,' which has thrilled viewers with its shocking and chilling storyline, will air on Saturday, the 27th, at 10 PM.
Reporter: Im Chae-ryeong, TenAsia syjj426@tenasia.co.kr
